In new humanitarian interventions to support the steadfastness of Jerusalemites, the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO), in cooperation with the Wafa Association for Development and Capacity Building, continued implementing a Project to renovate homes for poor Palestinian families in Jerusalem, with the aim of improving housing conditions.

The Project aims to provide a safe and healthy housing environment for 15 poor Palestinian families living in the Old City and Silwan, directly contributing to strengthening the Palestinian presence in their original city in the face of displacement, siege, and oppressive policies.

The Project was implemented under the supervision and funding of the IICO, in cooperation with the Wafa Association for Development and Capacity Building. This falls within the framework of a shared commitment to improving the living conditions of vulnerable groups in the Palestinian territories and strengthening the IICO's ongoing efforts to support the steadfastness of Palestinians and preserve their identity and presence in their homeland.

The suffering of poor Palestinian families in Jerusalem is increasing day by day due to the occupation's policies that have continued over the years to impoverish Jerusalemites. The Jerusalem Center for Economic and Social Rights estimates that approximately 80% of Jerusalemites live below the poverty line.

Furthermore, one manifestation of this is that poor Palestinian families in Jerusalem now live-in uninhabitable homes and suffer from poor health and living conditions due to dilapidated buildings, harmful environmental factors, and the city's high cost of living.

The Project's importance stems from the urgent need to renovate these homes in a way that provides Jerusalemite families with a safe living environment that protects their mental and physical health and ensures a suitable living environment.

The Project, which included the renovation of damaged homes and the reconstruction of some of their damaged parts, seeks to preserve the dignity of Jerusalemite families by providing humane and healthy housing and helping them lead normal lives in a safe environment, free from the dangers and challenges imposed by the occupation's policies. The Project also contributes to strengthening the resilience of Jerusalemites in the face of ongoing threats of forced displacement and demolition.

The interventions of the IICO and its partner, the Wafa Association, represent a bridge of hope, strengthening the Palestinians' ability to persevere and cling to their land, given the deteriorating economic and social conditions of many Jerusalemite families, who live in harsh conditions due to the arbitrary measures of the occupation.

The need for this Project comes at a time when Jerusalemites are facing ongoing attempts to displace them from their homes, in addition to difficult living conditions due to the rising cost of living and the heavy financial burdens imposed on the city's residents by the occupation.

Moreover, the IICO's support is embodied in providing safe and healthy shelter that improves the quality of life for children and adults alike, especially since many families were suffering from health conditions resulting from high humidity and poor home infrastructure, such as chronic chest diseases.

The Project not only provides adequate housing, but also contributes to instilling hope in the hearts of Palestinians and strengthening their presence in the Old City, which is subjected to constant restrictions by the occupation. This is achieved by providing these families with the necessary social protection and mitigating the humanitarian impact of these policies.

In addition, this Project is not the first of its kind. Rather, it is part of a strategic humanitarian vision to support Palestinians in Jerusalem and the rest of the Palestinian territories, and a powerful message to support their steadfastness and strengthen their presence in their city.

It is worth noting that the IICO is one of the most prominent humanitarian organizations contributing to the aid of Palestinians in general, and Jerusalemites in particular. This Project is part of a series of humanitarian projects aimed at improving the living conditions of Palestinians, particularly in the areas most affected by the occupation's policies.